Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Nigeria: Terrorism

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government how they marked Red Wednesday on 22 November, with particular reference to the rise in religious persecution in Africa, and whether they noted the associated presence in London of two survivors of the terrorist attack on a church in Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria, in which 40 people died, and their plea to the UK and Nigerian governments to work with one another in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Promoting the Right to Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all is one of the UK's longstanding human rights priorities.To mark Red Wednesday this year, FCDO buildings lit up in red, demonstrating our solidarity with Christians and all people across the world facing persecution because of their faith or beliefs.The UK Prime Minister's Special Envoy for FoRB, Fiona Bruce MP, hosted a gathering of Parliamentarians, where they heard from Margaret Attah, a survivor of a terrorist attack on St Francis Xavier Church in Owo, Nigeria, and her husband, Dominic.We continue to call for those who committed this attack to be brought to justice and held to account.

Libya: Visits Abroad

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton, plans to visit Libya.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: It is long-standing policy not to comment on Ministerial travel. To do so could compromise the integrity of protective security arrangements and affect the safety of the individuals involved.

Belfast Agreement and European Convention on Human Rights

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks byLord Sharpe of Epsom on 20 November (HL Deb col 618), what steps they will take to (1) remain a member of theEuropean Convention on Human Rights, and (2)protect the human rights infrastructure of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Government is firmly committed to upholding the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and to protecting and respecting human rights. We will ensure a human rights framework that is up to date, and works for all the people of the United Kingdom.The Prime Minister has made clear that if the European Court of Human Rights chooses to intervene against the express wishes of Parliament, the Government is prepared to do whatever is necessary.

British Committee for Iran Freedom

Lord Empey: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the work in the UK of the British Committee for Iran Freedom.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We are aware of the British Committee for Iran Freedom's work as well as its political affiliations. The FCDO believe that it is for all Iranians to ultimately determine the future of Iran.

Sudan: Internally Displaced People

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessmentthey have made of reports that more than 6 million people, half of them children, have been forcibly displaced in Sudan; and that Sudan now represents the biggest displacement crisis globally.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK condemns the ongoing violence in Sudan, and the consequent humanitarian impacts on people displaced both inside the country and those forced to flee to neighbouring countries. We commend those countries who have kept their borders open. In May, the Minister for Development and Africa announced that the UK would provide £21.7 million in humanitarian aid for people in need in Sudan. This followed an earlier announcement of £5 million to help meet the urgent needs of refugees and returnees fleeing to South Sudan and Chad. We continue to call on both sides of the conflict to abide by their responsibilities under International Law, protect civilians and to grant immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access, so that aid can reach those who need it, including those who have been displaced.

Ukraine Recovery Conference

Viscount Waverley: To ask His Majesty's Government which directorate produced the list of invitees for the recent Ukraine Recovery Conference; and what were the criteria for selection for the invitees.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: As co-hosts for the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC), the programme and attendance was agreed between the Governments of Ukraine and the UK. In addition to the countries and organisations which participated in previous URCs, we invited representatives from Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America, recognising the global economic consequences of the war. Over 500 international businesses participated - selected in coordination with the Department of Business and Trade - to promote the potential of the private sector to support Ukraine's recovery. Representatives from Ukrainian and international civil society were selected from a diverse range of sectors at national, regional and local levels.

North Korea: Human Rights

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they discussed the United Nations Commission of Inquiry report into human rights violations in North Korea with President Yuan of the Republic of Korea during his state visit, specifically its finding that crimes against humanity have been committed;and whether they and the government of Korea intend jointlyto raise the findings of the inquiry once Korea becomes a member of the UN Security Council.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK supported the Republic of Korea's (ROK) election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) for a 2-year term from 2024-6. They intend to lead discussions on peacekeeping, women's rights, cybersecurity, and also plan to increase focus on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). We intend to support the ROK's objectives in the UNSC and to deepen engagement on shared areas of interest including the human rights situation in the DPRK. The UK has repeatedly made clear that China and Russia blocking the Security Council's efforts to hold the DPRK to account sends a dangerous signal to states seeking to undermine international peace and security.

North Korea: Refugees

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they discussed the repatriation of North Korean escapees to China with President Yuan of the Republic of Korea during his state visit; and, if so, what response they received from him.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is utilising all bilateral and multilateral channels to raise the issue of forced repatriation of Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) escapees by China. The Prime Minister held productive discussions with the Republic of Korea's (ROK) President Yoon during his state visit, which included China's forced repatriation of escapees and the wider human rights situation in the DPRK. The UK actively promotes the implementation of the 1951 UN Refugee Convention which asserts that a refugee should not be returned to a country where they face serious threats to their life or freedom.

Cholera

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cholera outbreak reported by the United Nations as affecting 27 localities across seven states with 78 associated deaths, with more than 3 million people estimated to be at risk by the end of the year.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Due to the ongoing conflict, Sudan continues to grapple with mass displacement, disease outbreaks and malnutrition. The health system has been overwhelmed by attacks on health facilities and the scarcity of medical supplies, equipment, health workers and operational funds. The World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting Sudan with cholera treatments (including antibiotics, oral rehydration solution, intravenous fluids and rapid diagnostic tests), in addition to providing direct support to cholera isolation centres. The UK is funding Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and health activities in Sudan via the Sudan Humanitarian Fund, UNICEF, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). With support from WHO and health partners, the Ministry of Health is coordinating efforts (in areas of the country that are still accessible) to scale up access to clean water and sanitation facilities, as well as ensuring affected and at-risk communities are aware of transmission risks and proper hygiene practices to reduce contamination risks and prevent further spread of the outbreak. We are supporting the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (WHO), and will deploy a Senior Epidemiologist to assist with coordination efforts to bolster the national response. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy: Finance

Lord Empey: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the sources of funding for the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy for their activities in the UK.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office does not routinely make funding assessments on the UK not-for profit sector and has, therefore, not made any such assessment regarding the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy.

Sudan: Armed Conflict

The Earl of Sandwich: To ask His Majesty's Government what is their assessment of steps to be taken with international partners to stabilisethe conflict in Abyei, Sudan, through (1) civil society, and (2) the United Nations.

Lord Benyon: On 20 November, the UK released a statement with our Troika (US and Norway) partners to urge all those in a position to influence the communities involved to take all appropriate steps to prevent further escalation and push for an end to the violence. The UK have also echoed the UN Secretary-General's encouragement for the African Union to intensify its mediation efforts to help reach a political solution for Abyei. We continue to urge both the Governments of South Sudan and the de facto authorities in Sudan to regularise meetings of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee and agree joint security mechanisms to improve stability in Abyei until its final status can be agreed. We are in regular contact with partners operating in Abyei, and are engaging with the UN system, including supporting the mandate renewal of the United Nations Interim Security Forces in Abyei (UNSIFA) in early November. We have expressed alarm in the UN Security Council about the ongoing positioning of the South Sudanese People's Defence Forces in southern Abyei and have called upon the Government of South Sudan to immediately withdraw its troops in line with its commitments under the 2011 Status of Forces Agreement.

Developing Countries: Climate Change

Baroness Manzoor: To ask His Majesty's Government whatsteps they are taking to address the disproportionate impact of climate change, such as flooding, disease, drought and famine, on developing and poorer countries; and what funding they have allocated to address this in collaboration with other international governments.

Lord Benyon: Increasing ambition and action on adaptation and loss and damage is a priority for the UK. From April 2011 to March 2023, it is estimated that UK International Climate Finance programmes have directly supported over 100 million people to adapt to the effects of climate change. At COP26, the UK COP Presidency secured a commitment from developed countries to at least double adaptation finance for developing countries by 2025. As the UK, we will triple our funding for adaptation from £500 million in 2019 to £1.5 billion in 2025. In September, the Prime Minister announced a pledge of $2billion (£1.62 billion) to the Green Climate Fund.

Department for Business and Trade

Small Businesses: Inflation

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are providing to small businesses experiencing financial pressure as a result of customers being unable to afford items or services because of inflation.

Lord Offord of Garvel: The government aims to make the UK the best place in the world to start, scale up, and grow a business. Our Business Support Helpline and Growth Hubs provide expert advice, guidance, and signposting to all types of business. The Government-backed British Business Bank (BBB) improves access to finance for business. In the 2023 Autumn Statement, the chancellor announced further measures to support small businesses. The Small Business Rate Relief is available to businesses, and eligible properties will receive 100 per cent relief, which means around a third of businesses in England (713,000) will pay no business rates at all.

Trade Promotion

Viscount Waverley: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they keep a list of exporters for the purposes of determining who to invite to government sponsored trade conferences held in the UK; and what are the criteria for selection for invitees to such conferences.

Lord Offord of Garvel: The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) does not maintain an official list of exporters for this particular purpose. The criteria for selecting businesses invited by the Department to specific events vary depending on several factors. These factors differ based on the type of events, whether organised by DBT or third parties. Invitations to events are extended to businesses based on the Department's contacts with them, collaboration with stakeholders, or broader promotional efforts.

Nuclear Fuels: Exports

Lord West of Spithead: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the UK is a net exporter of enriched uranium; and what discussions they have had with the industry regarding growing external markets.

Lord Offord of Garvel: Urenco currently supplies around 30% of the global market with uranium enrichment services, a number which could rise in the coming years. Whether the UK is a net exporter at any given moment is subject to commercial agreements however the UK has the capability to supply a significant proportion of the global market.HMG works closely with Urenco to explore opportunities globally and maintain their existing international contracts. HMG also works with Urenco to support investment into their UK facilities.

Department of Health and Social Care

Cancer: Medical Treatments

Lord Browne of Belmont: To ask His Majesty's Government what measures they are taking to increase the availability of non-invasive cancer treatment technologies.

Lord Markham: The National Health Service continues to increase investment in minimally invasive cancer therapies, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy services. Since April 2022, the responsibility for investing in new radiotherapy machines has sat with local systems. This is supported by the 2021 Spending Review, which set aside £12 billion in operational capital for the NHS from 2022 to 2025. The adoption of new treatments, including increasing the number of minimally invasive cancer treatments and technologies, into the NHS in England is generally the result of National Institution of Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance and commissioner decisions. Both NHS England and integrated care boards are required to put in place access for any treatment that carries a positive recommendation from the Technology Appraisal programme, operated by NICE. Where treatments are approved by NICE through the Technology Appraisals programme, the National Health Service is required to make them available within agreed timescales, which vary by technology. Implementation of any NICE approvals will be supported by the service readiness assessment and the development of additional capacity where necessary. NHS England’s Specialised Commissioning team has been undertaking work to expand the number of providers offering minimally invasive cancer therapies, such as selective internal radiation therapy. The market engagement and Prior Information Notice aspects of this have now been completed, with regional teams now putting in place the necessary contractual arrangements with NHS trusts.

World Health Assembly

Lord Hannan of Kingsclere: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the amendment to Article 59 of the World Health Organisation's International Health Regulations, adopted on 22 May 2022 by the World Health Assembly, and for which the opt-out period, available to each country separately, expires on 1 December.

Lord Hannan of Kingsclere: To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the 307 amendments to the World Health Organisation’s International Health Regulations (2005), proposed in May 2023, given the deadline for opting out of the regulations and that extended consideration period has now passed and that ten months remain for the UK to opt-out of the amendments.

Lord Hannan of Kingsclere: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they consider that parliamentary ratification is needed for the World Health Organisation’s International Health Regulations (2005) as amended.

Lord Markham: The International Health Regulations (2005) are an existing international legal instrument to which the United Kingdom and 195 other World Health Organization (WHO) Member States are party. The regulations are a key part of the global health security system to prevent, protect against, control, and provide a public health response to the international spread of disease.At the WHO World Health Assembly (WHA) in May 2022, Member States including the UK agreed a process to negotiate and agree targeted amendments to the regulations and adopted five process-related amendments.These amendments shorten the timeframes for future amendments to the regulations to come into force, namely 12 months with the possibility to extend up to 24 months, rather than 24 months, and for Member States to reject or reserve on them for 10 months rather than 18 months.These amendments apply only to future Member State-agreed amendments to the regulations. The UK supports the amendments as they aim to improve the timeliness of Member States’ implementation of and compliance with the regulations, which helps to better protect the UK from future public health events including pandemics.The 75th WHA also agreed the process for negotiating further targeted amendments to the regulations. Member States could submit proposed amendments for consideration and a Working Group (WGIHR), consisting of all Regulation State Parties, including the UK, through which the proposed amendments would be negotiated and agreed.The Government continues to engage in the Member State-led WGIHR negotiation process, working to secure the best outcomes for the UK, as a means of strengthening preparedness for and response to future global health emergencies. Our priorities for the more than 300 proposed amendments continue to include increasing compliance with the regulations, improving transparency, and speeding up timeliness of reporting. No further amendments have been agreed yet. Member States agreed to submit a package of agreed amendments to the WHA in May 2024.Amendments to the regulations must be adopted by Member States at the WHA for them to come into force as a matter of international law. A 10-month opt-out period for the more than 300 amendments will commence only if and when the amendments have been adopted by the WHA.The Government has a strong commitment and duty to implement its international obligations. In addition, throughout negotiations, the UK has been and will continue to be clear that we would not agree any amendments that would cede sovereignty to the WHO, including in relation to making domestic decisions on national measures concerning public health, such as, domestic immunisation programme rollouts and other similar measures.A Westminster Hall debate on the regulation amendments will be held on 18 December 2023. Any new or amended domestic legislation necessary to reflect new international obligations under the regulations would be made through the applicable parliamentary process. In all circumstances, the sovereignty of the UK Parliament would remain unchanged.

Royal Sussex County Hospital: Air Ambulance Services

Baroness Merron: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Markham on 9 December 2022 (HL3930), what progress they are makingtowards starting operationsof the helipad at Royal Sussex County Hospital.

Lord Markham: Royal Sussex County Hospital is still assessing the work required to reopen the helipad.

Ambulance Services: Standards

Lord Taylor of Goss Moor: To ask His Majesty's Government what was the average waiting time for an ambulance (1) in the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, and (2) across all NHS trusts in England, in each year since 2000.

Lord Markham: Ambulance response time standards were reformed following the recommendations of the Ambulance Response Programme in 2017, including the publication of average response times.We recognise the pressures the ambulance service is facing which is why we published our Recovery Plan for Urgent and Emergency Care Services. The ambition is to deliver one of the fastest and longest sustained improvements in emergency waiting times in the National Health Service's history. We aim to reduce average Category 2 response times to 30 minutes this year with further improvements towards pre-pandemic levels next year.Ambulance response times are recorded at an ambulance trust level. Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust is served by South West Ambulance Service. The following table shows the South West Ambulance Service average response time since the introduction of the standards in August 2017.South West Ambulance Service average response times (hh:mm:ss)YearCategory 1 meanCategory 2 meanCategory 3 meanCategory 4 mean2017/18 (August-March)00:09:4200:33:2201:15:3002:00:332018/1900:07:1800:27:2601:12:0902:06:252019/2000:07:0300:28:3801:17:1701:33:562020/2100:07:3500:23:3001:00:0301:23:462021/2200:10:201:01:5702:44:0102:53:392022/2300:11:051:09:0402:41:3702:45:252023/24 (so far)00:09:2700:40:4001:46:1502:02:26The following table shows the National average ambulance response time since the introduction of the standards in August 2017. YearCategory 1 meanCategory 2 meanCategory 3 meanCategory 4 mean2017/18 (August-March)00:08:2300:25:5101:04:3601:30:322018/1900:07:1800:21:4701:01:4601:25:422019/2000:07:1800:23:5001:11:0401:26:092020/2100:07:0300:20:5700:54:4101:22:512021/2200:08:3900:41:1802:13:3903:07:102022/2300:09:1800:50:0102:35:1903:07:432023/24 (so far)00:08:2500:34:2501:57:0702:24:33

Home Office

Detainees: Medical Examinations

The Lord Bishop of Durham: To ask His Majesty's Government how many reports under (1) rule 32 of the Short-term Holding Facility Rules 2018, and (2) rule 35 of the Detention Centre Rules 2001, were issued in (a) 2021, (b) 2022, and (c) 2023; and how many led to the release of an individual detained after a detention review.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: To maintain the highest standards of accuracy, the Home Office refers to published data, as this has been subject to rigorous quality assurance under National Statistics protocols prior to publication.We do not routinely publish information about the number of reports under rule 32 of the Short-term Holding Facility Rules 2018, and rule 35 of the Detention Centre Rules 2001, and how many led to the release of an individual detained after a detention review.

Asylum: Rwanda

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made ofthe costs incurred to date of the asylumtransfer scheme with Rwanda.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: The UK has provided Rwanda with an initial investment of £120m into its economic development and growth as part of the Economic Transformation and Integration Fund (ETIF). Investment has been focused in areas such as education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, and job creation. A separate payment of £20m in advance of flights was also paid last year to support initial set up costs for the relocation of individuals. Beyond this, spend will be reported as part of the annual Home Office Reports and Accounts in the usual way.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Arts: Employment

The Earl of Clancarty: To ask His Majesty's Government, for each year since 2013, what number of people were working in each of the nine sub-sectors of the creative industries, and what contribution each sub-sector has made to the economy.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: The UK’s creative industries are worth more than the life sciences, automotive manufacturing, aerospace, and oil and gas sectors put together, generating £126 billion annually and employing over 2.4 million people across the country.As set out in the Government’s Creative Industries Sector Vision, our ambition is to grow this sector by a further £50 billion gross value added and to support one million more jobs by 2030, delivering a creative careers promise which builds a pipeline of talent.Each sub-sector of the creative industries makes a distinct contribution to the UK economy. The information requested is shown in the following tables:Number of people working in each creative industries sub-sector (000s): Advertising and marketingArchitectureCraftsDesign and designer fashionFilm, TV, radio and photographyIT, software and computer servicesPublishingMuseums, Galleries and LibrariesMusic, performing and visual arts20131559481242325741988524420141671018136228607193842842015182907132231640200972862016198987160246674193922912017190104101602617121929628320181951119163245733199892962019190112917123977519695315202020111581512798721971042942021226106716029096319994294202224111051392801,03520996283Source: Economic Estimates: Employment in DCMS sectors and Digital sector, January 2022 to December 2022. - GOV.UKContribution to economy of each creative industries sub-sector, as measured by gross value added (GVA) (£ billions): Advertising and marketingArchitectureCraftsDesign and designer fashionFilm, TV, radio and photographyIT, software and computer servicesPublishingMuseums, Galleries and LibrariesMusic, performing and visual arts201313.22.60.22.318.229.911.419.7201413.330.42.318.132.611.40.88.62015173.40.42.619.433.511.10.99.6201615.73.40.332037.611.40.99.3201716.83.70.32.719.738.210.619.6201816.43.50.33.319.24010.40.910.2201915.83.40.4320.241.310.7110.1202015.93.20.12.417.842.910.10.67.42021*18.23.50.43.119.948.811.318.92022*18.83.70.43.220.855.411.6111.2*Figures for 2021 and 2022 are summed monthly GVA estimates as annual GVA estimates are not yet available. These figures are subject to revision and not directly comparable to the annual GVA estimates for 2013-2020 due to being calculated via a different method.Source: Economic Estimates: GVA for DCMS Sectors and the Digital Sector, 2020 - GOV.UK (Annual GVA 2013-2020); DCMS and Digital Economic Estimates: Monthly GVA (to Sept 2023) - GOV.UK (Summed monthly GVA 2021-2022)

British Library: Cybersecurity

Lord Freyberg: To ask His Majesty's Government whetherthey have plans to establish specific initiatives or grants to support the British Library in developing and implementing comprehensive cybersecurity training programmes for its staff, ensuring a heightened awareness of potential threats and proactive measures to mitigate risks.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: The central aim of the Government Cyber Security Strategy is to ensure that the Government’s critical functions are strengthened against cyber attack by 2025, and that all Government organisations across the public sector are resilient to known vulnerabilities and attack methods by 2030. As the sponsor Department for the British Library, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will continue to work closely with the British Library to enhance its overall cyber resilience.The British Library already has a comprehensive cyber security training programme for all staff and, while forensic investigation into the recent attack it suffered is ongoing, additional opportunities will be kept under review.

Department for Transport

Avanti West Coast: Catering

Lord Blencathra: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Vere of Norbiton on 27 September (HL10350), what text is included in Avanti's National Rail Contract on the provision of catering in first class.

Lord Davies of Gower: The provision of First-Class Catering is included in the Continuing Ancillary Services Document which sets out services that are required to be carried over from the previous Franchise Agreement. Clause 4.5 of the National Rail Contract states that the operator shall continue to provide any Continuing Ancillary Service and not vary the terms or stop providing without the Secretary of State’s prior approval.

Liverpool Street Station: Construction

Lord Carrington of Fulham: To ask His Majesty's Government what finance they are providing, or planning to provide, directly or indirectly, to the scheme to partially demolish Liverpool Street Station and to build a tower over it and the Grade II listed former Great Eastern Hotel.

Lord Davies of Gower: The design, build and construction of the scheme will be funded by the partnership between Sellar and MTR. There are proposals for a new lift and making improvements to the gateline at Liverpool Street Station, however this essential work is being undertaken now ahead of the redevelopment plans and does not form part of the wider scheme.

Liverpool Street Station: Construction

Lord Carrington of Fulham: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they or Network Rail will own the tower which is proposed to be built over Liverpool Street Station; and whether it is proposed that the ownership of the tower will remain in the public sector.

Lord Davies of Gower: The proposed office building as part of the redevelopment of Liverpool Street Station will be owned and managed by the partnership between Sellar and MTR. The remainder of the station will continue to be owned and managed by Network Rail, including the retail area.

High Speed 2 Line: Construction

Lord Grocott: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Vere of Norbiton on26 October (HL10766), how much money has been spent to date on the Crewe leg (Phase 2a) of HS2.

Lord Davies of Gower: This is set out in the latest Parliamentary Report on HS2. The Department will continue to work with HS2 Ltd to bring early / enabling site activities to a safe stop and conclude any land remediation activities for the handing back of sites.

Railways: Midlands and North of England

Lord Grocott: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Davies of Goweron 22 November (HL278),whether the Prime Minister's commitment to deliver new rail schemes "far more quickly" than the scrapped Manchester leg of HS2, as set outin theirNetwork North published in October (CP 946), applies tothe lines from (1) Burton to Leicester, and (2) Stoke to Leek.

Lord Davies of Gower: Under the Network North announcement, the Government has committed to delivering both schemes, both of which could be delivered quicker than Phase 2b of HS2 which was due to complete in 2041.

Public Transport: Sexual Harassment

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the recent survey conducted by theRail, Maritime and Transport Union, which found that 40 per cent of women public transport workers have been sexually harassed at work, what steps they are taking to combat sexual harassment in the transport sector and prevent it from worsening.

Lord Davies of Gower: As part of the 2021 cross-government tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy, the government appointed the independent VAWG Transport Champions. In March 2022, the VAWG Transport Champions published 13 recommendations which have been crucial in informing the work of DfT on tackling VAWG on transport. The safety and security of female rail workers is and will continue to be of paramount importance for the Government and for train operators. The Department funds the national Rail Delivery Group ‘Zero Tolerance’ campaign against sexual harassment on the railway. The campaign aims to educate passengers and staff of what constitutes sexual harassment and informs people of the action they can take to report it if they witness it or are a victim themselves. A dedicated CrimeStoppers line is in operation for all those who wish to report anonymously.The British Transport Police will investigate every report of sexual harassment on the railway; incidents can be reported to British Transport Police via text on 61016, via the Railway Guardian App, online, or in an emergency by dialling 999. All Train Operators are also required to develop, maintain and implement a Safeguarding on Rail Scheme, accredited by the British Transport Police.

Old Oak Common Station: Great Western Main Line

Lord Berkeley: To ask His Majesty's Government howmany platforms are planned for Old Oak Common rail station on the Great Western Main Line.

Lord Davies of Gower: Eight platforms are planned for Old Oak Common rail station on the Great Western Main Line. This consists of four relief line platforms and four main line platforms.

Old Oak Common Station

Lord Berkeley: To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of intercity trains are planned to stop at Old Oak Common Great Western rail station when it is fully operational; and what is the additional journey time between Reading and London for trains that will call at Old Oak Common.

Lord Davies of Gower: The current assumption is that all passenger trains on the Great Western Mainline will stop at the new Old Oak Common station. Current estimates indicate stopping trains at this station is likely to add approximately 3 minutes, though this would be dependent on further timetable analysis.

Old Oak Common Station: Construction

Lord Berkeley: To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of (1) the total cost of construction at Old Oak Common Great Western rail station, and (2) the total time for construction from the beginning of works to the opening of the station for passengers.

Lord Davies of Gower: Old Oak Common is being designed and built as a single, integrated station, with a budget of £1.67bn (Q3 2019). There is no separate cost for the conventional station. Enabling Works at Old Oak Common started in 2018 and permanent works started in 2020. The station works will continue until opening for passenger services in 2029-2033. The total time is therefore between 11 and 15 years.

Old Oak Common Station: Finance

Lord Berkeley: To ask His Majesty's Government whether the funding for Old Oak Common Great Western rail station comes from HS2 Ltd or Network Rail.

Lord Davies of Gower: The whole cost of the new Old Oak Common station is funded through HS2, including the station on the Great Western Main Line.

Old Oak Common Station: Construction

Lord Berkeley: To ask His Majesty's Government over what time periods rail services to and from Paddington Station will be disrupted due to construction for Old Oak Common Great Western station; and what alternative arrangements will be made for passengers.

Lord Davies of Gower: Construction of the Old Oak Common conventional station will involve a number of partial and complete closures of the Great Western Main Line east of Ealing Broadway during the period up to 2030 which will impact passenger services and freight operations. My department is working with Network Rail, HS2 Ltd and the train operating companies to minimise the impacts of disruption, combining timing of works with other works planned on the route wherever possible, and ensure the continued operation of rail services.

Euston Station: Disability

Lord Blencathra: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Davies of Gower on 27 November (HL339), why the steel sidebarson the disability buggies at Euston station were replaced in the last two weeks; what was the cost of installing the original ones and replacing them with the new ones; and who was responsible for making the decision on both sets of bars.

Lord Davies of Gower: Following an incident involving a passenger on one of the buggies at Euston Station, Network Rail undertook a safety investigation. One of the outputs from the investigation was to ensure safety bars were present on all buggies. Network Rail found that the design of the bars caused issues for some passengers getting on and off the buggies. Therefore, Network Rail replaced them with the newly designed safety bars which allows more of the bar to be pushed back into its housing, resulting in more space for passengers to get on and off. The cost of installing the original bars and then replacing them with the new bars was £2617.20 excluding VAT. The decision for the bars to be replaced was made by the Route’s Head of Stations.

Department for Work and Pensions

Social Security Benefits: Chronic Illnesses and Disability

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Autumn Statement made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 22 November where he stated that if jobseekers "choose not to engage with the work search process for six months, we will close their case and stop their benefits" (HC Deb col 336), what steps they are taking tosupport individuals with health conditions and disabilities in finding employment.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: We are investing £2.5 billion over the next five years in our ‘Back to Work Plan’; this builds on the Government's existing package of support to create a more inclusive and productive labour market that helps disabled people, and people with health conditions, to start, stay and succeed in work. This support includes: a new WorkWell service to join up employment and health support at a local level, reforming the Fit Note process, delivering the Universal Support employment programme, improving the quality of occupational health for employers, and expanding access to mental health services. As part of the Autumn Statement, we also announced the intention to close the claim of those who have been disengaged for 6-months or more, where they are in receipt of a nil Universal Credit award following a sanction decision. We will not be closing the claims of anyone who is in receipt of other Universal Credit elements, such as the disability, child, or housing element. The conditionality and sanctions regime also does not apply to those in the No Work Related Requirements, such as those with a severe health condition or disability. For claimants who must meet certain work-related requirements to receive their Universal Credit payment, these requirements will be based on individual and household information and will take account of health, caring responsibilities, ongoing work or volunteering, and any earnings. Furthermore, all requirements are set in discussion with the claimant and tailored to their capability and circumstances, making them realistic and achievable.

Artificial Intelligence: Redundancy

Baroness Moyo: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the economic and societal risks of generative AI, including a potential increase in unemployment as a result of automation of work, the prospect of increased need for public support to individuals and welfare payments.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: DWP is aware that the increased use of Artificial Intelligence may impact the labour market, affecting the nature and types of jobs available to workers in different sectors and regions in a way that is difficult to accurately forecast. The UK labour market is fluid and dynamic, and an average of 900,000 employed people per quarter moved from one job to another over the last year. As yet, we have yet to see any evidence of significant job displacement that can be directly attributed to AI. However, we are mindful of the potential risk of job displacement and our Jobcentre offer is designed to support claimants who need to transition to new roles by providing them with tailored, flexible advice.

Social Security Benefits: Mental Health

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the efficacy of removing benefits from, and applying sanctions to, claimants with mental health conditions after 18 months in the context of their ‘Back To Work’ plan launched on 16 November.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: Claimants must meet certain requirements to receive their UC payment. These will be based on individual and household information and will take account of health, caring responsibilities, ongoing work or volunteering and any earnings. All requirements are set in discussion with the claimant and tailored to their capability and circumstances, making them realistic and achievable. Claimants are given every opportunity to explain why they failed to meet their agreed conditionality requirement before a decision is made. We recognise the importance of understanding how a mental health condition impacts someone’s ability to search for or prepare for work. Claimants with serious mental health conditions are typically placed in the No Work-Related Requirements regime and are exempt from any form of conditionality and sanctions. As announced in the Back to Work plan, individuals, following their completion of Restart, will have a Claimant Commitment review meeting with their work coach where new requirements will be set according to the claimants’ circumstances. Claimants will be expected to accept this revised Claimant Commitment in order to continue to receive their benefits. Should a claimant fail to accept their commitment within the 7-day period their claim will be closed as per the current process. Where a claimant in a conditionality regime fails to comply with a mandatory work-related requirement, they have the opportunity to provide good reason before a sanction decision is made. Additionally, a pre-referral quality check is in place to check for any known vulnerabilities before a claimant is referred for a sanction decision and following a referral, cases are reviewed to ensure that the mandatory requirement set was fair, and to check whether a conditionality easement should have been applied.If a sanction is applied and the claimant disagrees with the decision, they can ask for this to be looked at again by way of a Mandatory Reconsideration. If they further disagree with the outcome of the Mandatory Reconsideration, they can raise an appeal for the sanction decision to be looked at by an independent tribunal.

Cabinet Office

All-party Parliamentary Groups: National Security

Lord Empey: To ask His Majesty's Government whatassessment, if any, they have made of the funding of the activities of All-Party Parliamentary Groups by hostile states.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: It is, and always will be, an absolute priority to protect the UK from foreign interference. We know that some states seek to interfere in our democratic institutions and processes. This is unacceptable and the government is taking robust action to safeguard our national security. The regulation of All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) is a matter for Parliament and in July 2023 the House of Commons approved a new rule that APPGs must not accept the provision of a secretariat by a foreign government, or accept the services of a secretariat funded by a foreign government.

Ministers: Pay

Lord Forsyth of Drumlean: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe of 28 November (HL 277), whether they will now answer the question put, namely to list the ministers and whips in the House of Lords alongside their respective salaries and allowances.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The ministers and whips in the House of Lords and their respective claimed salaries for financial year 2023-2024 are as follows:MinisterSalaryThe Rt Hon the Lord Cameron£104,360The Rt Hon the Lord True£104,360Baroness Neville-RolfeUnpaidBaroness Vere of Norbiton£70,969Lord Ahmad of WimbledonUnpaidThe Rt Hon the Lord BenyonUnpaidLord Sharpe of Epsom£70,969The Earl of MintoUnpaidLord Bellamy KCUnpaidViscount CamroseUnpaidBaroness Scott of Bybrook£70,969Baroness Penn£70,969Lord MarkhamUnpaidRobbie Douglas-MillerUnpaidThe Rt Hon the Earl HoweUnpaidLord JohnsonUnpaidLord Offord of Garvel£70,969Lord Callanan£70,969Viscount Younger of Leckie£70,969Baroness BarranUnpaidLord Davies of Gower£70,969Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay£70,969Lord Caine£65,625Lord Stewart of Dirleton KC£94,772The Rt Hon the Baroness Williams of Trafford£81,485The Earl of Courtown£70,969Lord Gascoigne£65,625Lord Harlech£65,625Lord Evans of Rainow£65,625Lord RoboroughUnpaid In line with the Ministerial and Other Pensions Act 1991, Lords ministers are able to claim the Lords Office-Holders Allowance (LOHA). There are two rates for LOHA: Lords ministers living in London can claim £4,435 for the financial year 2023-2024, and Lords ministers living outside of London can claim £36,366 per year. Lords ministers who are unpaid may choose between claiming either LOHA or the Lords Daily Allowance. Lords ministers who receive a salary are not permitted to claim the Lords Daily Allowance.

Northern Ireland Office

Northern Ireland

Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown: To ask His Majesty's Government what active steps they have taken to promote Northern Ireland’s position within the UK.

Lord Caine: As the Government’s Northern Ireland manifesto at the last elections stated clearly: “As Conservatives and Unionists, the preservation of a secure and prosperous United Kingdom is our overriding goal. That is why we will never be neutral in expressing our support for the Union and Northern Ireland’s place within it”. Northern Ireland benefits immensely from being part of the United Kingdom while the United Kingdom as a whole is stronger and better together. This Government firmly believes the Union is strongest when all its people can see and feel its benefits in their everyday lives. Northern Ireland benefits hugely from being an integral part of the world’s sixth largest economy. The financial advantages of being in the Union can be clearly seen in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, for example through the range of tax measures announced such as full expensing, that will help support local businesses. The National Insurance cut, combined with the increase in the National Living Wage, will mean a pay boost for nearly one million people in Northern Ireland. From January, 800,000 workers in Northern Ireland will benefit from £311 back into their pocket due to the National Insurance cut. The Belfast area has recently secured £3.8 million UK Government funding to become one of the UK’s 10 5G Innovation Regions which will benefit local creative industries, advanced manufacturing, and transport and logistics. The UK Government was also proud to host the Northern Ireland Investment Summit, showcasing the opportunities across Northern Ireland for global investment, and highlighting the benefits of the Windsor Framework. This Government governs for the whole of the country, ensuring that the Union delivers for all citizens across every part of the UK.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Property: Management

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask His Majesty's Government, since the Social Housing (Regulations) Act 2023 received Royal Assent, (1) what steps they have taken regarding the implementation of the requirement under the Act for property managing agents responsible for managing the common parts of private and mixed tenure tall buildings to obtain an appropriate housing management qualification, and (2) what discussions they have held with stakeholders regarding this requirement.

Baroness Penn: Since the Act received Royal Assent, we have been working to develop our consultation on new competence and conduct regulatory standards, which will include qualification requirements for senior managers and executives in the social housing sector. As part of this we have had extensive engagement with a range of stakeholders including resident groups, landlords and qualifications providers. This stakeholder engagement has informed the proposals outlined within our consultation. The consultation will be published shortly.The power within the Social Housing Regulation Act will be used to apply qualification requirements to housing managers within the social housing sector.

Multiple Occupation: Licensing

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking (1) to reduce the number of unlicensed houses in multiple occupation, and (2) to promote safe and uncrowded living conditions for those affected.

Baroness Penn: All local authorities are required to license houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) in which five or more people from two or more households share facilities. Through additional licensing, local authorities also have the power to require HMOs to be licensed where three or more unrelated people share facilities.The Government is determined to crack down on rogue landlords who let out unlicenced HMOs. Through the Housing and Planning Act 2016 we put measures in place that make it easier for local authorities to effectively tackle unlicensed HMOs, introducing civil penalties of up to £30,000 and Rent Repayment Orders for a wide range of offences.Regardless of whether a property is subject to HMO licensing, local authorities have powers under the Housing Act 2004 to tackle overcrowding. Where a local authority finds serious overcrowding, assessed as a category one hazards under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), they have a duty to take enforcement action.

Levelling Up Fund: Northern Ireland

Lord Rogan: To ask His Majesty's Government how much Round 3 Levelling Up funding has been ring-fenced for spending in Northern Ireland; and when, and by whom, the decision was taken to exclude Northern Ireland from the announcement on 20 November regarding the release of Round 3 funding for the rest of the UK.

Baroness Penn: £30 million has been reserved for Northern Ireland from Levelling Up Fund round 3. The Northern Ireland budget pressure is a critical factor affecting Northern Ireland’s economic prosperity and the lives of citizens. In this context it is right that UK Government should consider its approach to funding available for Northern Ireland in a rounded way. As part of our commitment to levelling up, we want to work with a restored Executive to find the best approach to supporting people in Northern Ireland, taking account of current budget pressures.

Travellers: Caravan Sites

Baroness Whitaker: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by Friends, Families and Travellers, Kicking the Can down the Road: the planning and provision of Gypsy and Traveller sites in England 1960–2023;and what steps, if any, they will take to implement its recommendations.

Baroness Penn: The Department has not made an assessment of the report by Friends, Families and Travellers on the planning and provision of traveller sites in England that was published in November 2023. It is the responsibility of local planning authorities to make their own assessment of the need for traveller sites and in producing their local plan to identify sites to meet that need.

New Towns

Lord Taylor of Goss Moor: To ask His Majesty's Government when was the last timethe provisions of the New Towns Act 1946 was used to support delivery of a new community.

Baroness Penn: The last time the provisions of the New Towns Act 1946 were used in England was in 1964 with the designation of Washington, Tyne and Wear New Town. The New Towns Act 1946 was subsequently consolidated into the New Towns Act 1965 and the Central Lancashire New Town in 1970 was the last new town in England designated under that Act. There have been no new towns designated in England since then.Well planned, well-designed, locally led garden communities will play a vital role in helping to meet this country’s housing need well into the future, providing a pipeline of new homes. We are supporting 47 locally led Garden Community projects across the country, with the capacity to deliver around 300,000 homes by 2050.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Pets: Disease Control

The Earl of Leicester: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will make it amandatory requirement for dog and cat flea treatments only to be approved for use if they have passed an environmental damage test.

Lord Benyon: Exposure to fleas and ticks may give rise to parasitic disease in pets and present zoonotic risks to humans, as well as causing distress and discomfort. Topical flea treatments form an important part of effective parasite control to protect both human and animal health. Therefore, it is essential to take a balanced approach in terms of the benefits of these treatments and their potential environmental impact when considering this issue. Nevertheless, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) recognises the concerns raised by stakeholders with regard to the potential contribution of flea and tick treatments for companion animals to the levels of certain chemicals of concern currently being detected in UK surface waters, such as fipronil and imidacloprid. The VMD is reviewing the environmental risk assessment process for companion animal flea and tick treatments, and this is being treated as a priority.

Department for Education

Children: Protection

Lord Hampton: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Barran on 26 October (HL10658), whether they will undertake to publishthe finalised annual version of Keeping Children Safe in Education in the school summer term in future, given that even minor changes can cause issues with planning.

Baroness Barran: The department currently has no plans to alter the established publication timings for ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’. The department publishes a near final version of the guidance in late spring or early summer.Schools and colleges are familiar with the department’s approach which ensures that schools and colleges have sufficient time to digest revisions and to plan any necessary training, ahead of implementation in the next school year.It is rare for material changes to be made between the ‘for information’ version and the final publication in September. Where this does occur, changes are strictly limited to reflect vital information in response to unexpected or emerging issues and are made to support schools and colleges to better safeguard children.

Ministry of Justice

Compulsorily Detained Psychiatric Patients: Death

Lord Blunkett: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer of Lord Bellamy on 28 November (HL272), whether the figure quoted, of 18 deaths among those serving imprisonment for public protection sentences in secure hospitals up to 31 December 2022, is included within the overall figures of deaths of IPP prisoners published by the HM Prison and Probation Service for the same period.

Lord Bellamy: HMPPS publishes quarterly Safety in Custody statistics which cover deaths, self-harm and assaults in prison custody, in England and Wales. These published statistics do not include the death of those in secure mental health facilities.I also refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave to question HL273 on 28 November 2023, which can be found via the following link: Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament.

Treasury

Debts: Cuba

Lord Blencathra: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Vere of Norbiton on 22 November (HL158), what was the rationale behind the decision to defer payments under the 2015 agreement; and when they expect Cuba to make payments against this debt.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: In 2021, the Group of Creditors to Cuba (GCC), including the UK, agreed to defer payments due under the 2015 Agreement. This was on the basis of the Republic of Cuba’s economic and financial situation and the Cuban Government’s efforts to support Cuban economic development in the context of Covid-19. The GCC and Cuba have confirmed their willingness to preserve the 2015 Agreement and commitment to ensure its full implementation.